ECHOES OF THE SOUL: THE UNIVERSAL JOURNEY OF
LOVE, DUTY, AND SPIRITUAL INSIGHT IN ‘EYE THAT DISCERNS’ BY PROF DR. JAGTAR
DEEP SINGH
The ACARI 2025 2nd Middle-East Conference on Academic and Research Integrity: "Resilience Through Integrity in Academia and Research", held from February 13-15, 2025 at the University of Lahore, Lahore was, on the one hand, a typical academic gathering, but on the other hand, it offered a unique platform where people from different continents came together, blending as if they were long-lost family members. Participants from America, Africa, England, and South Asia discussed the role of AI in academia and how human resources could resist the advancing wave of artificial intelligence. The first day was filled with enthusiasm and entertainment, and as a learner, I gained a wealth of knowledge from the discussions on intercultural communication.
Some moments are not merely fleeting but rather
the birth of something new in our lives. These moments sprinkle a fresh and
eager spirit into our existence. As human beings, we are blessed with the
unique gift of the soul, which is constantly in search of a soulmate. On one
such occasion, my soul encountered another at the University of Lahore during
the ACARI 2025 2nd Middle-East Conference on Academic and Research
Integrity. My soul was in awe when he introduced himself and his wife.
I was overwhelmed by his down-to-earth nature, and when he gifted me his
thought-provoking book, Eye That Discerns (Vekhan Vali Akh), a
collection of Punjabi poetry, I was moved to tears.
Prof. Dr. Jagtar Singh, Director of Collaboration
and Partnership at the Indian Association of Teachers of Library and
Information Science (IATLIS), is a gold medalist in Library Science from the
University of Chandigarh, where he also completed his Ph.D. in Public Libraries
in Punjab. He is a UNESCO expert on Media and Information Literacy. Dr. Singh’s
writing style is colloquial, and his multi-faceted approach to exploring the
human psyche is unique and remarkable. His talk during the parallel session
focused on the relationship between AI and human creativity. What captivated
the audience was his ability to weave together various cultural emotions from
Hindi, Punjabi, and English. His talk, filled with both entertainment and insightful
information, left the audience spellbound as he shared his perspective.
Dr. Singh’s visionary insights truly shone
through when we engaged in a detailed conversation during lunchtime. His wife,
Mrs. Jagtar Singh, is the epitome of culture and grace. She pointed out the
similarities between Shahmukhi and Gurmukhi. As she uttered words like
"Babay" (mother), "Bapu" (father), "Majj"
(buffalo), "Gujjar," and "Zaat" (caste), she expressed how
indistinguishable the cultures of India and Pakistan felt to her. "The
culture is the same, the rituals are the same, the language is the same, the
aura is the same, the skin and soil are the same. So why is there a boundary?
It’s political," she shared, her words filled with the wisdom of someone
who truly felt at home in both countries. As different intellectuals from
Government College Lahore greeted them with honor, protection, and love, they
considered them family.
As I delved into the book, I was touched by the various flowers that bloomed
through his verses of love and sport. The 94 poems in this collection reflect
profound philosophical themes of love, humanity, and the human quest for
eternity and fulfillment. One of the most colorful flowers is Rivers Never
Stop Flowing, a beautiful and enchanting song replete with the idea of
universality. The speaker beautifully and artistically motivates the reader
through this motivational song.
From beginning to end, the persona believes in
the continuity of life. The speaker starts with a journey and reckons that
"they keep going." It accelerates the idea of flow and glow in life.
Imagery like “curve their path” and “they go and grow, they don’t stop”
symbolizes people who remain persistent, continuing their journey through thick
and thin. They stay engaged in their intellectual and physical pursuits,
bringing peace to their minds as they “find peace” through their flow. The poem
ends by urging the reader to continue growing, just like rivers.
Rivers never stop flowing,
In the journey to the ocean, they keep going.
They curve their paths, undeterred,
Like blue rivers merging into the earth’s central world.
Even then, they do not cease,
For in their flow, they find peace.
They transform into clouds, rising high,
Falling as blessings from the sky.
This is the essence of life, pure and true,
To flow, to grow, to renew.
Like rivers in endless motion,
We too must offer good deeds, with devotion.
For doing good is the greatest creed,
The true religion of every need.
Just as the river flows to give,
So must we, in kindness, live.
Pantheism
is another artistic grip of the poet, as he, like William Wordsworth, witnesses
the presence of God in various elements of nature. The poet joyfully and
ecstatically connects with the idea of the presence of God in the world. Like
English Romantics, the Asian poet feels and experiences this divine presence,
as in the poem:
I witnessed the presence of God
I witnessed the presence of God
When I had my by-pass surgery
I witnessed the presence of God
When my soulmate clung to my bosom
I witnessed the presence of God
When I got connected with my mornings
I witnessed the presence of God
When I got connected with the cosmos
Whenever the Almighty bestowed His blessings
I witnessed the presence of God.
Dr. Singh’s poetry also reflects
modernism and romanticism. He juxtaposes romanticism and modernism, as one of
his poems reflects the alienation, disintegration, and artificiality of modern
life. He describes the modern condition like Larkin’s "Mr. Bleaney,"
capturing the existential struggles of modern man. In his poem Burden of
Duties, he emphasizes how people today are burdened by the pressures and
duties of life:
Burden of Duties
Life, oh life, so strange in its
ways,
A labyrinth of mazes, a tangle of days.
Outwardly hollow, yet within it lies
A richness unseen by the wandering eyes.
Loved ones afar, like stars in the sky,
Yet the pain of the heart lingers close by.
The destination eludes, a mirage in the sand,
Which I clutch like a chain, measuring the land.
Adorned with pearls, with diamonds to wear,
Yet the world sees poverty, unaware.
Each soul is bruised, treated the same,
Yet each proclaims a unique name.
No books, no wisdom, no scrolls to read,
Yet a scholar they call themselves, indeed.
Oh, to laugh and play, to taste the breeze,
But duties weigh heavy, no moments of ease.
The title poem Eye That Discerns
encapsulates a deep philosophical reflection where the poet contemplates the
nature of human existence. The journey from the cosmos to the body and back to
the cosmos symbolizes the eternal cycle of life. The poem speaks of the need
for an eye that discerns—one that sees beyond worldly pursuits and looks into
the deeper truths of existence. The eye that discerns is seen as a third eye, a
spiritual and insightful vision that can perceive the world and its deeper
meanings. In this way, Dr. Singh’s poetry touches on the human spirit, its
quest for peace, and the connection between the material and the spiritual
worlds.
Dr. Singh’s work is a testament to his brilliance
as an artist and a cultural representative. His poetic exploration of the human
psyche, from romanticism to modernism, offers a rich tapestry of emotional
depth and intellectual insight. His poems resonate with themes of love,
sacrifice, duty, spirituality, and the eternal quest for fulfillment.
Eye that Discerns
Oh, this air, water, fire, and the earth.
I wonder in awe at the marvel of nature.
Ah! What a celestial quest—
Journey from cosmos to body and body to cosmos.
Alas! To behold and adore,
One needs an eye that discerns,
And the wisdom that adores.
Otherwise, for those who focus on worldly pleasures,
There is no solace from frustration.
The poem, which shares its title with the book,
offers a deep philosophical reflection, where the poet delves into the
innermost aspects of the human being. The poem has multiple layers: it is
philosophical, natural, and universal. It reflects profound concepts like
eternity, as seen in the line "Journey from Cosmos to body and body to
cosmos." Through this, the poet emphasizes the need for a discerning eye
that can look beyond the superficial world, beyond borders and screens, to
perceive deeper truths.
Such an eye is unique and often referred to as
the "third eye"—the eye of saints and compassionate beings. These
people represent beauty, guidance, love, peace, mercy, and the glory of a
community. These spirits transcend boundaries and belong to all religions,
possessing a spiritual insight that is both deep and compassionate. They are
the essence of a flourishing society, nourishing it with wisdom and understanding.
In the first poem, Deep reflects on worldly pursuits, contrasting them with
eternal peace, solace, and harmony. Through just a few verses, he opens doors
to deeper meanings and truths, yet the ‘eye to discern’ is essential to
recognize them.
The poem concludes with a significant and
universal message: "Otherwise, for people who focus on worldly pleasures,
there is no solace from frustration." This echoes the themes of Romantic
poets like William Davies, who also explored human struggles and spiritual
insight. Deep's poetry touches on the turbulence and anxiety humans experience
in worldly pursuits, which, though transient, cannot offer lasting peace. In
contrast, spiritual insights provide eternal solace and are immune to the
temporal stresses of the world. Spiritual bonds and connections remain stronger
than any external, worldly achievement, and they continue to flourish, even in
the realm of imagination.
Overall, Deep's poetry touches upon every aspect
of the human psyche. He skillfully and artistically portrays the beauty of
nature, echoing Romantic ideals, while also highlighting issues related to
modernism, postmodernism, and meta modernism. Poems like "I Am Not
Selfish," "Burden of Life," "I Am the Culprit,"
"I Cried Bitterly," "Where Are My Confidants,"
"Hypocritical Relations," "Abyss of Hell," "I Won't
Let You Go," and "Hunted by Memories" reflect the struggles
modern individuals face. These poems shed light on the complexities of
contemporary life, where fickleness and flattery dominate. The more one
flatters, the more one is adored, but this fleeting fame is hollow, devoid of
the timeless grace that comes with purity, honesty, chastity, and integrity.
These qualities stand in stark contrast to selfishness, hypocrisy, envy, and
jealousy.
These issues have always existed, as illustrated
in Christopher Marlowe's The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus, where
the modern man's struggles are exposed. Similarly, Deep's poems reflect various
facets of the human psyche in ways that are both astonishing and
thought-provoking. As a poet, he is a keen observer not only of his own society
but also of the global issues that shape the world. His multicultural
perspective and transnational insights are evident in his poetry. Deep’s unique and heartfelt perspective
as both a poet and cultural representative is beautifully expressed in Eye
that Discerns. His poetic craftsmanship and emotional depth testify to his
brilliance as an artist and cultural ambassador.
MUHAMMAD ADNAN GUJJAR
Lecturer
in English Language and Literature
University
of Chenab, Pakistan
Founder
and Editor-in-Chief at
Wordsmith
Magazine, Pakistan
Managing
Director at
Calypso
Magazine, Greece
Ambassador
English Literature at
Insight Magazine, USA.
ILLUSTRATOR:
Tajalla
Qureshi
tajallahqureshi@gmail.com
Co-founder
and Co-Editor at
The
Wordsmith Magazine, Pakistan
An
Interviewer and Associate Editor at
Insight
Magazine, USA
Editor
in Chief at
Calypso Magazine, Greece.
